I have a 96 jeep cherokee se. When I turn the key all the electrics come on, but the engine won't even try to crank, as if the battery were dead. I know the battery's fine though. The lights will come on, the radio plays, the clock has the right time. What could it be?

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no year, 1993?
that's the starter motor , called cranking over and engine.
or silent start. (dead)
key turns no sound from starter.
does it click?
is dash warning lamp all glowing key on, they must, if not battery is dead, or battery lugs only corroded, (clean em?)
are head lamps dim or dead, turned on?
just it jumper cable crank, (AAA autotow style)
id say battery is dead. or lugs rusty.

ok lamps dead (cluster i premus)
so which are dead,which are not,
like head lights,do they work key off?
does engine start?
or even crank:?

my first wild guess,will be battery dead
2nd battery lugs green with corrosion and zero service on car.
turned the key , all warning lamps glow.
as does park lamps, with its headlight switch1st click
of those are all dead. its dead battery or fuses blown.

did you replace the ECu with a used one or new. if it a used one did you match it to the old.why di you change the ECU.? when you turn the key in the start position does the fuel pump turn on? does it crank? do you know if there is spark if you pull one spark plug wire?

sorry turns over means ZEROthe crank shaft can spin or notthe starter can in fact spin and crankshaft not.and some think turns over means, engine runs. now that fact makes turns over, a dead statement.

the word is cranks over, the engine cranks over robustlyland then the engine runs.then runs for more that 3 seconds, and the ASD relay holds. (step by step his works like this ,93 to now)

wont crank ? (clear statement in fact)cranks ok, (crank shaft spins fast) can be seen and heard.runs for 3 seconds? and stalls (ASD relay drop out) can be seen.runs for 5min and stalls. (complex)runs for hours and stalls. (even more complex)all are key facts to the solution.

tell more..... tell all it does good bad or uglyfor better suggestions!

note that you never once said car can be driven? why?
job1, can you do job 1?
battery is going dead
if head lamps are dim its battery going dead, (not dash HEADs?)
notice is did not say battery was bad only discharged.

if engine starts is charge.battery lamp glowing.
i engine is dead, can crank it.
get a jump, call AAATOW
or find a loaned battery that is charged.
buy a battery charger and use it.

also cars can have phantom drains, as you sleep battery goes dead. (ask)

Hello, There is something you can try, but we need more info about any sounds the engine makes and if the engine is cranking or completely dead when you turn the Key to Start.

If the engine does not crank, there are switches under the floor pedals for the Brake and clutch(if a stick shift). These often get hit by a wayward shoe and the switch is knocked out of position or broken. Check there and see if that's the problem. Another switch is part of a Safety device that requires your Auto Transmission to be in Park or Neutral. It should be under the dash and possibly at the bottom of your steering column.

If there is a click or stream of clicks, rattles, and so on when the Key is in Start; you need to recontact us.

Now when you say "won"t start" if the engine cranks and does not run, this would be a different problem than one caused by a Starter. You would either have no fuel activity or no spark. We would need to know from you what the engine is doing.

A definition: cranking is what happens when you turn the key, the starter engages and turns the engine. (term comes from when that was done with a crank that you stuck into the front of the engine to start it, before electric starters were invented) Turning over is the same as cranking. Starting is when the engine actually starts, even if for a brief moment.Now...if the engine turns when you turn the key it is cranking. Was it doing that? If not, the problem is either in the battery, starter/starter relay or security system (sometimes) or the ignition switch. If it is turning and not starting, then the engine needs to be checked to make sure it has spark at the plugs, and fuel going into it. These problems are different ans some can be easily solved.